Standing next to Rachel's bedroom and across from Guest Room 3; the office used to belong to James Renston, and it is lined with bookshelves and a bow window in the back looking out into the front courtyard of the Mansion Estate. A large desk with a photo of James Renston is pointed at the large redish brown-leather chair that seats the Countess Rachel Renston herself.

Rachel sat behind her chair, and looked over at a photo of her and her cousins and uncle Rich:

She sighed, realizing that she was still too young to think of even having children; but she did want to see this Alastor Grey now. "But how to invite him...I can't just say: Hey lets have a child, when we first meet." she sighed again and shook her head.

"Would you like anything to drink Miss?" Came the voice of T.O.M. who was standing beside Rachel with a tray in hand and his other hand behind his back. On the tray was an empty glass. He would summon what ever she desired in physical form if she so desired-and he would send it to the Northern Ice Caps if she wished for it to be first chilled. "Perhaps a cold refreshing drink may soothe the nerves." he replied with a wide grin.

He recoiled, his grin bowing down into a frown. "My apologies Madam, then you would like me to leave you with this file I received from Ithteca? It's from Deltora of the ADN; it seems to be urgent that she had me personally come to receive it-well that and I was ordered to extract information from a certain individual...but would you like me to read the report or would you rather see it for yourself?" he asked her, his grin returning again.

Rachel blinked, sitting back in her chair and turning to face her butler. "'Asura'? Well what did she want?" she asked, curious now that her former Commanding Officer had information she liked to share with her. "When did you leave to Ithteca? Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" she questioned TOM, her gut was telling her though that it wasn't good news.

Tom closed his eyes pleasantly and remained grinning. "I was out a few hours before you arrived. I was told you were returning to the planet so I decided to wait till you arrived. I can honestly state that this puts the state of Galiavan in a 'dire' situation." he started, pulling the papers out of the file. "Chief of Security, Countess Rachel Renston, I regret to inform you of the situation that is occurring on Galiavan's soil while you were on the Moon Base. It appears that the Crimson Knight Brigade have returned to the surface and are taking control of most of the 'Underworld's' activities. They are seemingly ready to take on the planet with brute force. I will look further into this, but request your full cooperation in this ordeal. Investigate as soon as humanly possible. Signed, Deltora Alexandra Cendre." He finished placing the file onto the desk and his grin transformed into a sadistic smile. "Shall I find them and tear them to shreds my dear?" he asked politely otherwise, but with a deeper almost controlling tone. His eyes peeked open and they were glowing red.

"What..." Rachel paused. Her body tensed up and she felt her thumping heart slow down. This wasn't good. The former elite members of DarkSEED that led the break in Tenik's Private army; men who were responsible for leading the events of her father's murder were still at large even after 18 long years. She almost gave in to Tom's request, but she immediately declined: "No. If we are to strike-it is when they are ready to make theirs. I won't risk you starting a war that could be entirely prevented all together. In the mean time, just listen to the shadows that empower you, and from then we'll make our move." she finished, before changing the topic. "What is the status on private security detail?" she asked her tone still serious as before.

Tom closed his eyes, brought up his arms in a 'I give up' manner and sighed but still was grinning as he shook his head in disbelief. "You humans can be sometimes hopeless. When you have an enemy in your grasp you loosely wrap your fingers around his neck, but never have the initiative to squeeze the life out of him. But fine, you are my Boss after all so I will naturally oblige your orders..." He finished placing his left hand behind his back and leaning towards the countess with the drink tray still in the other: "As for the status of the security detail...Your recruits are bored Madam, and I'm afraid some of them are just too weak for the job; namely a certain kitten with the energy of a jack rabbit. I believe she is the worst offender to date." he replied still smirking.

Rachel looked at him. "Well then, we are going to have to increase the guard. I think I may know an individual in question who will participate; as for that Nekomimi T.O.M., if you like her why don't you just ask her out? Being hard on her isn't exactly going to be the best way to charm someone-hell I don't think anyone thinks that way." she replied closing her eyes and sighed.

He chuckled. "Well if I do that, who is going to be hard on you Lady Renston?" he replied grinning. "But what you say about me is preposterous; I only had one love in my life, and I shall speak no more of it. But now that you have perked my interest, whom is the new recruit you have in mind Madam?" he asked, standing firmly again and with his ruby eyes closed.

Rachel grinned. "Hearing you say that Tom, really get's my skin crawling." she replied with a bead of nervous sweat trickling off the side of her head. "The recruit I have in mind is a young man named Alastor Grey. I might try and invite him to the Mansion when there is daylight in Ithteca. Till then, you'll have to make sure the security are actually training themselves. Go talk with your 'kitty-cat' and make her not feel as bored. I don't know, spar with them." she replied closing her eyes and leaning over the desk with her right hand propping her head up while the other waved Tom off.

"Alastor Grey the Devil Hunter who own's the Wolf's Lament? That charlatan is indeed skilled, but I don't know my Lady should be seen with such riffraff, but for whatever reason I leave your expert judgement to that. As for the word 'spar', I have no such word in my dictionary; only maim or kill." he replied with a wider grin opening his eyes to reveal the ruby red orbs momentarily. "But if you wish, I may annoy her and leave you to contemplate your thoughts alone. Call out my name and I shall come if you need me my Dear." he replied before taking a step back and vanishing within the shadows.

She sighed. "Well now it's back to the drawing board. Maybe I can get assistance from Alastor..." she stated as she started to write out a report of her current plan of attack on both Tenik's plans and the newly brought to light information of the Crimson Knight Brigade.

Rachel took a seat behind the desk and extended her hand towards the seat in front of her. "Please, take a seat Mr. Grey-unless you'd like me to call you just Alastor since we'll be working together for a little while." she replied.

"Rachel is fine; just be sure to call me Lady Renston around Tom though-or he'll chew you out on the rules of etiquette, or if a member of the ADN is here I'm Section Chief Renston-but don't worry about the latter much-mostly since our data is being transferred in message and usually not many ADN come out this way." she replied with a grin. "So Alastor, while you are here you are to protect me and serve me as a bodyguard. That means no one can approach me with in a radius of about five feet without my consent, is this clear so far?" she asked.

"Alright then...We are investigating into the Crimson Knight Brigade, after interrogating an armed individual in Ithteca. Apparently, the CKB are clawing their way into the Underworld and are even supplying the formerly disposed Galiavan Mafia. And then last night in Beijio's ADN branch..." she then pulled out a file and opened it up, pulling out a photo of a explosion occurring at a dock. "This happened...200 ADN members are dead, and by the hands of only six individuals-three of which were in ADN garb according to survivors...and they also yelled out: 'Hail Tenik'." she replied, handing him the file.

She sighed. "We need to find out who's controlling the Crimson Knight Brigade. Who ever it is has an uncanny resemblance to their former General...Cunning and ruthless." she stated, placing her hand on her chin and closed her eyes in thought. Who is leading them?

"Hmm, imagine the odds if it were the same general. I mean from what I've heard about him, he wasn't exactly the type to go quietly nto that good night, know what I mean? Failing that, there's surgery, cloning, a robot.... Yeah, I realize those last two are a bit far-fetched."

Rachel shook her head. "That is impossible. He was killed 18 years ago in the Asrond City, by Barduwulf Garamonde and Shane Highsworth. He was confirmed dead and buried at sea." she answered in a depressed tone. "It would be a fantastic idea if he was still alive...though all proof states he's at the bottom of the Scardian Ocean in a stainless steel casket." she then looked over to her portrait of her father on the wall. Glad to know that Lionheart was dead. He was partly responsible for her father's death. She then turned to Alastor. "Is there anything you like to ask Alastor? If not this meeting is adjourned for today." she asked.

She chuckled. "Well your fine for now. I'm not like how Rufus forced his T.I.R.S. to wear suits whenever possible. Heh, when you meet Myiko, and you will, (everyone does...), you'll see that if I had implemented a dress code, she'd be violating every rule." she closed her eyes and smiled at him. "But...I'll keep you posted in the event you need to." she added.